Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет - СПбГУ

The SPbGU has a variety of student organizations, such as theater studios, tourist associations, and poetry clubs. Departments regularly organize conferences and open lectures. Some of the more popular yearly events are SPbGU's KVN comedy league and the Miss University pageant. Many departments curate student papers and magazines.

Dorm housing is about 8 euro (400 rubles)a month for full-time budgetary students, and about 70 euro (3,500 rubles)for paying students.

SPbGU operates a number of career and job-finding centers that help graduates find their footing on the employment market. Students have the ability to sign up for internships in their field of training. SPbGU has a number of cooperation agreements in place with major companies and organizations to arrange internships for students and help graduates secure employment. The university regularly holds Career Days, where students have a chance to directly interact with potential future employers.

There are two ways to apply for enrollment at the SPbGU: by submitting your documents in person to the admissions board, or by mailing them. Officers on the admissions board will also tour a number of regions throughout Russia and neighboring states, accepting applications for Bachelor's and specialty programs. If you are contemplating the option of paying for your education, you will need to file two applications - one for budget funding and one for a paid seat - at the same time. You can track the status of your application on the SPbGU admissions board website.

Applications are accepted starting from the end of June over the course of roughly one month, depending on the department. The first wave of admissions occurs at the end of July, and the final lists of admitted students are published in mid August. A candidate can apply to no more than 5 universities and no more than 3 specialties at once. Applications for Master's programs are accepted until July 13 for budget seats and until September 12 for paid seats.

Foreign students may need a visa in order to take the admission exams. To obtain a visa you will have to submit an application to the foreign section of your department of choice. The paperwork for obtaining an invitation letter and visa may take around 2.5 months, so be sure to make your preparations in advance.

The Saint Petersburg State University (SPbGU) is one of the oldest and largest higher education institutions in Russia. It is one of the two Russian establishments featured in international rankings of the world's top universities. Since its old days as a capital-city university, the SPbGU continues into the present today as one of the central pillars of the nation's academic life, attracting large numbers of students from all over Russia, as well as foreign students.

The history of SPbGU begins in 1724, when Peter the Great signed the decree which laid the foundations for a new system of science and education in Russia. After going through numerous transitions, the university was re-established in 1819 and has continued to operate uninterrupted ever since - even during the blockade years of World War II. Over the course of its existence the university has educated a plethora of famous scientists, writers, statesmen, and athletes. The periodic table of chemical elements was created by Dmitri Mendeleev during his years working at the SPbGU. Among its famous alumni are seven Nobel prize laureates and two recipients of the Fields Medal in mathematics, including Grigori Perelman. The roster of outstanding personalities continues with names such as Peter Stolypin (Russian Prime Minister, leader of the Third Duma), Vladimir Lenin (Russian revolutionary leader), Ivan Turgenev (famous novelist), Alexander Blok (Russian poet), and Mikhail Vrubel (famous artist).

Today, the educational and scientific university complex is comprised of 24 special departments, along with the Military Education department, the Pan-university Physical Education and Sports section, the Medical College, and the Physical Education, Sports, Economics and Technology College. There are 98 Bachelor of Science programs, 83 specialist training programs, and 157 Master's Degree programs. As is consistently pointed out in international university rankings, the SPbGU is particularly famous for its educational and research efforts in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy and chemistry.